Ooh, there's always so many crafts I'd love to start - I think patchwork has to be top at the moment, although I don't know how to use a sewing machine yet and can't hand sew for toffee.I've done a lot of cross-stitch in the past, but recently I've wanted to do stuff that has a little more practical use. I knitted the baby a patchwork-style blanket, my DD a hat and now I'm doing DS some mittens. I'm determined to keep doing this stuff despite having 4 DC's now! (Sod the housework!! )

Not a new craft as such but I want to have a proper go at sock making. For some reason it looks really hard to me which is daft as it can't be that difficult and I can knit fair isle and do cables and all sorts which some seem to think is tough. The heel is the bit that is putting me off. However, this year I will have more time to do crafting having finished an OU course and I will not put off learning the dark arts of sock making any longer.

I would also love to do some proper patchwork and quilting having only dabbled in techniques in recent years rather than making a whole quilt.

I really want to try the freeform sewing machine embroidery that Kirsty Allsop did. Is it possible to get an attachment for a normal machine (I'm sure that's what they said on the program) or do you need a special machine?

I'm going to try crewelwork - I got The New Crewel for Christmas and fancy making a cool cushion or something. I'm also going to do a red and white Dear Jane quilt - over 250 blocks and all different, am dreading and loving the idea.

Yeah, I've never quite grasped the concept of crotchet, so I don't think I'll be tackling that any time soon!

I'm knitting at the moment - I've knitted a patchwork blanket for the new DS3, a hat for DD, and am now tackling mittens for DS1. so I don't think I'll be tackling proper patchwork until I've made use of the wool I've bought and then I need to look at learning how to use a sewing machine!

I did get a lovely wooden sewing basket for Christmas though, so I'm now going to have to fill it with lovely bits and pieces!

they look difficult to make those dolls -sweet though. Had never heard of those before.

I can't fathom crochet. I have read books, looked at videos, listened to explanations. I cannot do it. When you've sussed it, please come back and help us Mrs. W.

Does anyone else find that their sewing machine always jamms? Used to drive me nuts, then I put it away in a cupboard and have had a life of peace. However now dd is determined to learn to use it and I am scared of getting it back out. No matter how often I adjust tension and dust it with a little brush and everything else you are told to do, it jams underneath with a thick cobweb of tangled threads under what you are sewing. It is maddening.

I think I may just have a jinxed machine though, other people seem to manage fine with theirs.

MrsvWoolf - crochet isn't hard once you get the hang of it, I think the best way to learn is probably to have someone show you (or maybe there is something on youtube you could watch.) It is pleasingly quick to make something with crochet (I love knitting too, but you can whip something up much faster with crochet).

Those waldorf dolls are very cute - unfortunately my DC are grown up now - I need some grandchildren to make toys for

Felting! I was very kindly given two huge bags of Shetland wool, straight off the sheep, burrs, poos and all. So I need to wash it (repeatedly and with my feet apparently, a la crushing grapes only more pungent)

Also I've been told that native sheep's wool takes ages to felt so I might like to add some merino which crinkles better. It's all new to me and I'm looking forward to it (once it's clean, as it is honking out the shed at the moment)

MrsvWoolf - I struggled to learn to crochet for ages but I finally learnt last year using this book.

I think the reason I had so much trouble is that it took me ages to twig that you need to do extra chains at the beginning of every row over an above the number you need for a pattern. They sort of provide the step up for the next row, iyswim. Difficult to explain but the book sorted it out. I reckon (although I could be wrong) it probably confuses a lot of people because the stitches themselves are not difficult.

I could do with good book to get my head round my sock making block if anybody could recommend one.

I am just getting really into knitting, just knitted DD a teddy which is full of lumps and bumps but I am quite proud of him! Would love to have a go at some more folksy type stuff, with felt and suchlike. I work in a preschool and would like to make some little dolls or gnomes for the children, and am doing forest schools so some outdoor crafty type things would be lovely. So many things to make, so little time....